Laysan Albatross 1/31/18

I recently visited Oahu, HI and heard there were nesting Laysan Albatrosses on the island. I had never seen these birds and wanted to go. I left my hotel room at 0530, drove for over an hour in the dark, and hiked five miles round trip while carrying a heavy telephoto lens. I must have seen about 30 of these amazing birds.

They can live to be sixty years old, only come ashore to breed, and have very long wingspans. I found them to have beautifully dark lined, penetrating eyes. I watched their breeding dances, saw them take off and land, and groom each other.

Hawaii works hard to protect these birds. At Ka'ena Point, where I hiked one has to enter through a gate, no dogs allowed, and the nesting areas are roped off, but the birds are easy to view from the trail. I was so happy that I made the effort to go see these birds.